TV-gadget maker Roku climbs after IPO raises $219 million

NEW YORK Shares of Roku, an early player in streaming-video gadgets, are soaring after its initial public offering of stock raised $219 million.

The shares priced at $14 each, the top of the company’s expected range, suggesting strong demand from investors. They rocketed to more than $22 in Thursday afternoon trading.

The Los Gatos, Calif., company is known for its boxes and sticks that let users watch Netflix, Hulu and the growing universe of streaming-video options on their TVs. It has the biggest share of the streaming-gadget market, but has deep-pocketed competitors in Amazon, Google and Apple.

Roku is unprofitable and has amassed $244 million in losses since founded in 2002.